The Daily Show: Ears Edition — Episode Summary

Episode: Mamdani and Democrats Score Big Wins & Conservatives Melt Down | Scott Galloway
Date: November 6, 2025
Host: Jordan Klepper (stand-in for Jon Stewart)
Key Guests: Desi Lydic, Scott Galloway, Eric Adams (segments/archival), Comedy News Team

Overview

This episode dives into the fallout from the latest U.S. elections—the first since Trump’s 2024 victory. The Daily Show team unpacks surprising wins for Democrats across the country, the cultural and political drama surrounding New York’s Zoran Mamdani, ongoing conservative meltdowns, and Donald Trump’s ever-contentious relationship with his hometown. Later, NYU professor and author Scott Galloway joins for an unfiltered conversation on modern masculinity, the “crisis” facing young men, and what the political left is missing about this demographic.

Election Day Highlights: Blue Surge and Youthful Energy

(00:33–07:59)

• Democratic Upsets:
  • Democrats achieved strong victories, with unexpectedly wide margins in both New Jersey (+13 points) and Virginia (+15 points) governor races, a landslide win on California's Proposition 50, and even flipped two seats in Georgia's Public Service Commission.

    “Not only are [the Democrats] alive, they are coked up like Don Jr. at a crypto convention.”
    —Jordan Klepper (00:55)

• Gen Z Enthusiasm:
  • A field piece satirizes young voters’ buzz—exaggerating "It's giving Election Day" as the new campaign rallying cry.

    “It's giving Election Day. It's giving hot people vote yes on Prop 50.”
    —Desi Lydic (02:35)

• Widespread Voting Hype—Even in the Wrong States:
  • Kentucky received complaints from citizens who tried to vote, even though their elections weren’t being held—that year.

    “Kentucky. Kentucky. How can I put this respectfully? You are not giving intelligence.”
    —Klepper (03:43)

Zoran Mamdani’s Win & NYC Fallout

(04:09–10:39)

• Who Is Mamdani?
  • Portrayed humorously as “Sultan of the People's Republic of Al New Yorkistan,” his win is attributed to a creative coalition including “young people, working class families, pagan graphic designers, nonbinary baristas, and, of course, Bushwick couples looking to make him their third.”
  • The opposition? Andrew Cuomo, with votes split by Republican Curtis Sliwa, prompting New York-flavored, melodramatic confrontations.

    “Hey, Curtis, you’re a scumbag... You sold out like Judah sold out Jesus for the 30 coins of silver.”
    —Anonymous Cuomo voter (04:39)

• NYC Exodus Panic:
  • Conservative media stokes claims that Mamdani's win will trigger a million-person exodus from New York.

    “You know, seriously though, I... I don’t want a million people to leave New York City. I want 2 million people to leave New York City. My subway commute this morning was so packed, I had to sit on an elderly man’s lap and he was already stacked on top of a pregnant teenager.”
    —Klepper (05:51)

• Mayor Eric Adams' Colorful Farewell:
  • Adams riffs on his supposed global job opportunities and delivers a surreal, highlight-reel monologue.

    “Countries are calling me and asking me to come and do what I did in New York City... I have to be stuck on stupid to want to do this again... I got a whole life to live.”
    —Eric Adams (06:31)

  • Montage of "Eric-isms" showcases his eccentric legacy:

    “I’m like broccoli. You’re going to hate me now, but you’re going to love me later. I’m Gandhi. Like, I think like Gandhi. I act like Gandhi. I want to be like Gandhi. ... I hate rats. Rats, rats. The rats may be listening.”
    —Eric Adams (08:38–09:47)

Trump vs. New York: A Love-Hate Story

(10:39–17:51)

Segment: “The Art of the Altercation” with Desi Lydic

• Trump's NYC Feud:
  • Trump’s relationship with New York is “an art form,” shifting from pride to open hostility, marked by his criticisms:

    “New York has a problem. This is now a city in decline, filthy, dirty. The job they do is horrible...”
    —Donald Trump (11:53)

  • In the '80s, Trump loved New York. Even committed the unforgivable crime of eating pizza with a fork (13:17).
• Exile and Revenge:
  • After losing overwhelmingly in the 2016 election (Clinton 79% vs. Trump 18%), Trump “breaks up” with NYC, moves to Florida, and faces his name being stripped from buildings.
  • The city completes its revenge by convicting Trump of 34 felonies.

    “Sorry, Donald. Looks like New York ended your political career. Pack it up and go home.”
    —Desi Lydic (16:24)

• NYC Spirit:
  • The new folk hero of NYC emerges: “Polka Dot Dress Lady” calmly flips off ICE agents during an immigration raid, a new symbol of local resistance.

    “Is there anything more New York than a well dressed woman slipping the bird without even once letting her tote bag touch the mustard covered sidewalk?”
    —Desi Lydic (17:11)

Interview: Scott Galloway on Masculinity, Young Men, and Politics

(17:51–32:14)

Modern Masculinity and a Looming Crisis

(18:49–26:14)

• Masculinity’s Role:
  • Galloway argues masculinity is "a wonderful thing," but men need a “code”—traditionally sourced from religion, military, or family. Today, young men lack such guidance.

    “I think the most disappointing thing about some of the men we would naturally look to as role models...They've skipped the whole protection part.”
    —Scott Galloway (19:22)

• Crisis for Young Men:
  • 1 in 7 young men are NEETs (not in education, employment, or training). Social media and tech have "sequestered" men from meaningful relationships; rage is now more lucrative than sex for platforms.

    “Big Tech is not our friend. The bottom line is they are doing everything they can to sequester you from the most meaningful, important thing in your life, and that is relationships.”
    —Galloway (22:46)

  • Boys without male role models face worse life outcomes—higher incarceration than graduation risk.

    “When a boy loses a male role model, at that moment he becomes more likely to be incarcerated than graduate from college.”
    —Galloway (23:29)

• Mentoring as the Solution:
  • Galloway calls on men to mentor boys outside their families, citing the lack of male teachers and Big Brother volunteers as an issue.

    “If we want better men, we have to be better men. Get involved in a young man's life.”
    —Galloway (24:53)

Masculinity, Gender, and Society

(26:14–27:23)

• Boys Need Men:
  • Statistical disparities for boys—higher suspension/discipline rates, especially for Black boys, are tied back to lack of male presence in education and society.
• Empathy Isn't Zero-Sum:
  • Raising the alarm about men’s plights doesn't detract from efforts to uplift women or other marginalized groups.

    “Empathy is not a zero sum game. Gay marriage didn't hurt ... Civil rights did not hurt. And having empathy for young men who are clearly struggling is not gonna hurt the rest of us.”
    —Galloway (27:04)

Democrats, Young Men, and Policy Blind Spots

(27:23–29:43)

• Losing Young Men:
  • Democrats are accused of neglecting men, focusing on special interest demographics to the exclusion of young men in particular.

    “When you say we're overtly serving 74% of the population, you're discriminating against 26%. ... The only group not mentioned was the group that has fallen furthest fastest in America. That's young men.”
    —Galloway (28:05)

• Policy Focus:
  • Galloway calls for universal childcare, a more progressive tax system, and overall, not ceding patriotism or young voters to the far right.

    “The biggest help to men, to young men, would be universal childcare. ... The most common reason for divorce is economic strain. ... Stop taking money from [the young] and putting it in my pocket.”
    —Galloway (29:20)

Personal Reflections & Patriotic Values

(29:43–32:14)

• Letter to His Sons:
  • Galloway discusses the emotional core of his new book, expressing pride and concern for sustaining American values, as a product of public programs and big government.

    “I feel as if everything that got me where I am in America is under attack right now. ... I want my boys to recognize their blessings and how wonderful it is to be born in America, but also to make sure that they never take it for granted and that they work hard and are willing to sacrifice such that we can make America, America again.”
    —Galloway (31:20)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Election Night Energy:

  “It's giving Election Day. It's giving Election Day. It's giving Election Day.” – Jordan Klepper & Desi Lydic (02:29)

• On Curtis Sliwa:

  “You split the vote. You sold out like Judah sold out Jesus for the 30 coins of silver.” – Anonymous Cuomo supporter (04:39)

• Eric Adams Farewell:

  “I'm like broccoli. You're going to hate me now, but you're going to love me later. I'm Gandhi. Like, I think like Gandhi. I act like Gandhi. I want to be like Gandhi.” – Eric Adams (09:47)

• On NYC’s Defiance:

  “Is there anything more New York than a well dressed woman slipping the bird without even once letting her tote bag touch the mustard covered sidewalk?” – Desi Lydic (17:11)

• On Masculinity:

  “If we want better men, we have to be better men.” – Scott Galloway (24:53)

• On Young Men and Policy:

  “Stop taking money from [the young] and putting it in my pocket such that people can have healthy, loving relationships without an absence of economic security. This isn’t rocket science.” – Galloway (29:20)

• On Empathy for Boys and Men:

  “Empathy is not a zero sum game...having empathy for young men who are clearly struggling is not gonna hurt the rest of us.” – Galloway (27:04)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening/Election Day rundown: 00:33–04:06
• Zoran Mamdani segment & NYC fallout: 04:09–10:39
• Eric Adams’ legacy montage: 07:59–10:39
• Art of the Altercation – Trump vs. NYC: 10:39–17:51
• Scott Galloway interview – masculinity & society: 17:51–32:14

Tone and Style

The episode is fast, satirical, irreverent, with a signature mix of sharp political insight and over-the-top comedic exaggeration. Guests and correspondents riff seamlessly, with memorable one-liners and deadpan takedowns, but the latter half features a more serious, sociological exploration during the Scott Galloway interview. The transition balances Daily Show wit with candid real talk about American cultural and political challenges.

For listeners seeking a recap:
This episode sharply spotlights the political pendulum swing of post-Trump America—from jubilant, meme-fueled Democratic victories to the existential crises facing New York Conservatives and the party melt-downs that follow. In conversation with Scott Galloway, it then pivots into an unusually candid and practical examination of what’s plaguing young American men—and what both politics and society might do about it.

Best for: Listeners who want political humor with substance, cross-generational insight, and a touch of human vulnerability amidst the satire.